Crop

To crop in ColorBender "drag" the mouse (hold the button and move the mouse) while pressing a key to choose the operation. The three operations are:

• rotation             hold down the "command" key while dragging the mouse
• magnification    hold down the "option" key while dragging the mouse
• translation         just drag the mouse

The cropping operations are constrained so that the output shape and size (or PPI) doesn't change and the crop region is locked within the image boundaries. Consequently, cropping is easy and fast with no need to "iterate" or repeat settings.

Using the orientation buttons, the image can be changed between panoramic and portrait, flipped vertically or horizontally, and rotated ±90 degrees.

Cropping From the Output Perspective

ColorBender crops from the "output perspective." This means that the cropped image is shown at actual size and shape of the input image is rotated, magnified and translated "behind" the output image.

Most other applications crop from the input "perspective" which causes several problems. The results are viewed at the wrong size and angle so the results may require iteration. After cropping there is an "apply" or "done" button so operations can't be chained without the image jumping around. The cropped region may need to be changed yet again to meet the requirements for output shape, size and resolution.

ColorBender Crop View

The View Window, below, shows a typical crop experience. Whenever the mouse is dragged, the Guide Lines are turned on showing the output image, 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines and a dim view of the image outside the crop region. When the mouse is released the Guide Lines are turned off. Or they can be turned off and on manually using the "Guide Line" button. If the View is set to "Print View" the Guide Lines also display the Printer Page Margins.

Explaining the Constraints

The resize and crop object management popup menu has a constraint selection shown below.

If the source image has adequate resolution, then these constraints have no effect. But if the user asks for an output image that requires more pixels than in the source image, then the constraints will apply. Based on the constraints, the best solution is computed automatically during interactive operations.

The "Size" constraint will give an output image that is the requested size and the maximum resolution (ppi) possible.

The "PPI" constraint will give an output image that has the requested resolution and the maximum size possible.

Whenever a constraint has been applied, the number in the size or PPI text field will be red. This means that the intended value could not be achieved and the number given is the maximum possible.

Constraint Examples

The first image, using the size constraint, sets the output to 3 inches, but is soft because only 80.45 ppi could be achieved.

The second image, using the ppi constraint, sets the output ppi to 150, but is small because only 1.61 inches could be achieved.

This image is being adjust with the size constrained. Consequently, the PPI value changes as the image is rotated or magnified. The PPI value is shown red since the intended value could not be achieved. The image is soft since it is only 80.45 ppi.

 

This image is being adjust with the PPI constrained. Consequently, the size value changes as the image is rotated or magnified.The size value is shown red since the intended value could not be achieved.

ColorBender 1.1 is a Universal Application that runs on Mac OS X 10.4 or later

© 4G Color 2005, 2006, 2007 all rights reserved, Website updated March 7, 2007